Finding the right balance between your IT budget and the performance...you need is a difficult challenge. Y ou rely on your SAP solutions to help make better business decisions, but your IT budget is likely under pressure. You need to keep all costs—acquisition, software licensing...

1. IBM Systems and Technology IBM Power Systems
Solution Brief
IBM PowerLinux Solution
Edition for SAP
Applications
Affordable single system SAP environment for midsize
businesses, supporting up to 500 SAP users
Finding the right balance between your IT budget and the performance
Highlights you need is a difficult challenge. You rely on your SAP solutions to
help make better business decisions, but your IT budget is likely under
●● ● ●
Deliver SAP ERP services faster and more pressure. You need to keep all costs—acquisition, software licensing,
reliably with a robust, enterprise-proven
platform
management and maintenance, and energy—under control.
●● ● ●
Maximize server throughput with Many midsize businesses rely on x86 commodity servers to run their
advanced virtualization capabilities
business solutions yet find they are challenged with the time they spend
●● ● ●
Simplify deployment and server managing these systems, and ensuring their solutions are performing for
management with a single server solution
the business.
●● ● ●
Reduce licensing and operational costs
with fewer servers Midsize companies are looking for IT solutions that deliver higher
Competitively priced to comparable
●● ● ● quality and yet are still affordable for their midsize business IT budgets.
offerings
The IBM® PowerLinux™ Solution Edition for SAP Applications is an
ideal solution for midsize company enterprise resource planning. Sup-
porting up to 500 SAP users, multiple SAP systems and its database on a
single server, the IBM PowerLinux Solution Edition for SAP Applications
reduces server management and lowers IT costs.

2. IBM Systems and Technology IBM Power Systems
Solution Brief
IBM PowerLinux 7R2 server of their systems. It reduces infrastructure costs and frees
The IBM PowerLinux Solution Edition for SAP Applications resources so businesses can focus on bringing innovative
runs on the IBM PowerLinux 7R2 server, a highly secure, products and services to market faster.
resilient and Linux-optimized system, enabling faster time-
to-delivery. The IBM PowerLinux 7R2 server is a dense, Get higher hardware utilization through
Linux-only two-socket rack form factor with sixteen virtualization
IBM POWER7® processor cores. POWER7 technologies Take advantage of the scalability and capacity of
in the IBM PowerLinux 7R2 server such as Intelligent Threads IBM PowerLinux rack servers by leveraging industrial-
and Active Memory Sharing can also improve workload strength PowerVM technology to fully utilize the system.
performance1 and server return on investment. IBM PowerVM for IBM PowerLinux is a new PowerVM
edition that is available exclusively for the IBM PowerLinux
The IBM PowerLinux rack server provides a robust, efficient, rack server. IBM PowerVM for IBM PowerLinux provides
virtualized environment with IBM PowerVM® technology so enterprise level functionality with an economical pricing
that business-critical workloads can run on a single server. The structure, comparable to x86 virtualization solutions.
ability to consolidate workloads on fewer servers lowers infra-
structure costs and simplifies server management. PowerVM technology provides the capability to dynamically
adjust system resources to partitions based on workload
The IBM PowerLinux rack server is designed for efficiency. demands, and allows individual virtual machines (VM) to access
With Linux-optimized POWER7 processors, workload opti- the maximum amount of memory and CPU cores available in
mizing technologies, and advanced virtualization capabilities, the server. PowerVM features such as Multiple Shared
businesses can run Linux applications quickly and efficiently. Processor Pools, Shared Dedicated Capacity and Active
The IBM PowerLinux rack server helps clients get the most out Memory Sharing enable workloads peeks, whether anticipated
or unanticipated, to be handled efficiently by the system’s
resources. The result is greater throughput per server2 and
administration savings to businesses.
The IBM PowerLinux Solution Edition for SAP Applications
leverages PowerVM virtualized resource utilization features to
run a midsize business SAP landscape on a single server.
PowerVM technology enables consolidation of traditional
Linux server workloads in a scale-out environment to a single
server, thus reducing server sprawl and operational costs.
2

3. IBM Systems and Technology IBM Power Systems
Solution Brief
Take advantage of superior reliability, IBM PowerLinux rack servers provide a secure environment for
availability, serviceability and security business critical workloads. The PowerVM hypervisor is secure
IBM PowerLinux rack servers are designed to deliver leading- by design. In contrast to other architectures and virtualization
edge application availability and allow more work to be solutions, IBM is known for its unique architecture that delivers
processed with less operational disruption.3 Reliability, the virtualized environment from bare metal through the
availability and serviceability (RAS) capabilities include recovery hypervisor. IBM PowerVM is certified at an Evaluated
from intermittent errors or failover to redundant components, Assurance Level 4+.4 Zero vulnerabilities have been reported
detection and reporting of failures and impending failures, against PowerVM5 making it a secure, stable environment for
and self-healing hardware that automatically initiates error business critical workloads.
correction, repair or component replacement. In addition, the
Processor Instruction Retry feature provides for the continuous IBM PowerLinux rack servers provide a high-performance,
monitoring of processor status with the capability to restart a efficient and reliable platform that reduces the need for multi-
processor if certain errors are detected. If required, workloads ple x86 servers. By consolidating SAP applications and its
are redirected to alternate processors, all without disruption to database on to a single server, midsize businesses can simplify
application execution. And, with the Live Partition Mobility administration and maintenance for SAP applications and gain
feature of PowerVM, IBM PowerLinux rack server workloads the benefits of a proven enterprise level platform.
can be moved between servers, while still running, to eliminate
planned downtime. Improve the return on investment on your
SAP ERP services
The IBM PowerLinux Solution Edition for SAP Applications is
a pre-integrated, virtualized solution, optimized and tuned for
Linux, SAP and IBM DB2® on POWER7. All of the hardware
and software components, POWER7 technology, PowerVM,
Linux, SAP and DB2 have been developed and optimized to
deliver SAP ERP services faster and reliably.
3

4. IBM Systems and Technology IBM Power Systems
Solution Brief
The IBM PowerLinux Solution Edition for SAP Applications
utilizes DB2 as its database management system. DB2 has been
optimized for SAP,7 and is integrated with SAP applications as
one product. DB2 is optimized for the POWER7 processor and
its Intelligent Threads technology. It is specially designed to
automatically leverage and optimize multiple threads, with no
change to applications.8 The exploitation of POWER7 by
DB2 optimizes database performance for SAP enterprise
resource planning.
The performance of the POWER7 processor makes it possible
for applications to run efficiently with fewer processors, result-
ing in lower per-core software licensing costs. In addition, a
single system can run more applications and reduce the number
of required servers, thus lowering infrastructure costs.
The IBM PowerLinux Solution Edition for SAP Applications
provides customers with the choice and cost savings of Linux, Combining software optimization for SAP ERP with the cost
the industry’s fastest growing server OS.6 Linux running on savings of running fewer servers and Linux, at prices compara-
IBM Power Systems™ is industry-standard Linux optimized to ble to traditional Linux systems—the IBM PowerLinux rack
exploit the advanced hardware and software capabilities of server does more, for less. Midsize companies can get the most
Power Systems. More companies are choosing Linux for their from their SAP ERP investment and free resources to capture
Power platform OS because it exploits the attributes of Power new business.
scalability, RAS, performance, and virtualization features with
the openness and affordability of Linux—choice of open source
A competitively priced alternative to
code, simple maintenance, and reduced acquisition and support
costs. With the IBM PowerLinux Solution Edition for SAP
comparable offerings
Many SAP customers believe that running Linux on x86 hard-
Applications, midsize businesses are able to leverage the
ware provides “good enough” performance for the price. As
benefits of an open source OS yet still exploit Power platform
budgets shrink, the upfront expenditures are often a major
features to deliver faster services and higher quality, while
consideration, but now midsize companies can take advantage
lowering acquisition and ongoing infrastructure costs.
of the IBM PowerLinux rack server solution at a price point
that is competitive with comparable x86 offerings.
SAP has supported IBM Power systems running Linux since
2004. Power has proven its reliability and performance leader-
ship with SAP workloads repeatedly since then. Deploying SAP
on the IBM PowerLinux server offers midsize customers the
advantages of an SAP ERP system with the openness of Linux
on an enterprise proven hardware platform.
4

5. IBM Systems and Technology IBM Power Systems
Solution Brief
Whether looking to replace aging x86 servers or to escape and—in partnership with companies like Red Hat and
high proprietary software license costs, IBM PowerLinux rack SUSE—has helped Linux become accepted as a new standard
servers offer: for the business world.
●● ●
More throughout per server. Through IBM developer participation in Linux communities,
●● ●
More efficient virtualization. IBM contributes to the development and optimization of
●● ●
Higher availability. Linux.10 IBM has learned that involvement with Linux relies on
●● ●
Fewer servers to manage. collaboration and influence not control, and has benefited
●● ●
Competitive total cost of acquisition. greatly from the wisdom of the crowds. And, contributions
●● ●
Lower operational costs. made by IBM are recognized and valued by the Linux commu-
nity. In 2011, readers of the Linux Journal selected IBM as
The IBM PowerLinux Solution Edition for SAP Applications the winner of the “Best Linux Server Vendor” category in its
is the ideal SAP ERP solution for midsize businesses. Midsize 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards.11
businesses can leverage pre-integrated, Linux optimized,
enterprise proven hardware and software at competitive For more information
pricing compared to traditional Linux x86 offerings. To learn more about IBM PowerLinux Solution Edition for
SAP Applications, please contact your IBM representative or
Why IBM? IBM Business Partner, or visit the following website:
For 40 years, IBM and SAP have consistently delivered superior ibm.com/power/powerlinux
return on investment through thousands of successful imple-
mentations.9 IBM and SAP collaboration on DB2 produced the Additionally, IBM Global Financing can help you acquire the
only database truly optimized for SAP. It is also the only SAP- IT solutions that your business needs in the most cost-effective
supported database available on all SAP supported hardware and strategic way possible. We’ll partner with credit-qualified
environments from Linux, Microsoft Windows, UNIX, to clients to customize an IT financing solution to suit your busi-
IBM System i® and IBM System z®. PowerVM was also ness goals, enable effective cash management, and improve your
SAP’s first supported and certified virtualization solution. total cost of ownership. IBM Global Financing is your smartest
Since 2004 SAP has supported PowerVM and its advanced choice to fund critical IT investments and propel your business
virtualization capabilities with Linux, AIX and IBM i. forward. For more information, visit: ibm.com/financing
Since 2000, IBM has embraced Linux as strategic to its systems
strategy, starting with investing over US$1 billion to back the
Linux movement. IBM’s support of the Linux community
grabbed the attention of CEOs and CIOs around the globe
5

6. 3 Server Availability: ITIC 2011 Global Server Hardware & Server OS
Reliability Survey Results, http://itic-corp.com/blog/2011/12/
ibm-stratus-microsoft-score-high-marks-in-itic-fall-2011-global-reliabillitty-
survey/
4 PowerVM security source: http://www.ibm.com/systems/power/software/
security/solutions.html
5 Zero vulnerabilities reported against PowerVM by US CERT or by
MITRE Corporation http://www.us-cert.gov/alerts-and-tips/
http://cve.mitre.org/
6 Linux fastest growing server OS source: http://idcdocserv.com/1199
7 DB2 and SAP http://www.ibm.com/solutions/sap/us/en/landing/
J233701A22235G06.html
8 DB2 and Power7 http://www.ibm.com/software/data/db2/power-systems/
9 Why IBM and SAP http://www.ibm.com/solutions/sap/us/en/
10 “Linux Kernel Development: How fast it is going, who is doing it, what
they are doing, and who is sponsoring it”, March 2012. http://
go.linuxfoundation.org/e/6342/ho-writes-linux-2012/879kf/221839922
11 Linux Journal 2011 Reader’s Choice Awards, “Best Linux Server
Vendor”, December 1, 2011 http://www.linuxjournal.com/slideshow/
readers-choice-2011
Please Recycle
POS03089-USEN-00